3:35 York
The 2026 Juddmonte International Stakes is a top-class Group 1 over 1m2f56y at York on good ground, featuring a compact but high-quality field of nine. KTB’s numbers highlight a strong group of high-class performers, with the top four all boasting unbeaten or near-unbeaten recent sequences and solid course or trip credentials. The race promises to test class, stamina and tactical speed given the anticipated strong pace.
How the race shapes up
With two or more habitual front-runners in the line-up and the pace shape assessed as strong with high confidence, the race is expected to be run at a searching gallop. Almaqam and Hawk Mountain are both noted as tending to make the running or race prominently, which should ensure an honest test and increase the chance of the pace collapsing in the final furlong. That scenario would play into the hands of the many hold-up performers, with the key question being which of the closers can produce the strongest late surge once the leaders tire.
The KTB Fit ranking
- 1Ombudsman KTB Selection77/100High-class performer who arrives in top form having won four of his last five starts.
- 2Item72/100High-class performer with a strong record, having won four of five starts including both outings at this track and both at today's trip.
- 3Constitution River67/100High-class performer with an unbeaten record of six wins from six starts including three at today's trip.
- 4Almaqam58/100High-class performer with solid recent form including a win and a placed effort this season.
- 5Pride Of Arras57/100Smart performer who has won two of his three starts here and looks well placed from stall five.
- 6Action54/100Smart performer who has been placed at this track and over today's trip.
- 7Hawk Mountain49/100Smart performer with a solid recent record of 11-123 and strong ratings backing.
- 8Devil's Advocate47/100Smart performer who has run to a good level on several occasions this year but has been a shade below his best on his last two starts.
- 9Zaydann44/100Smart performer who has won all five starts to date including at this trip on his most recent outing.
The contenders
Ombudsman KTB Fit 77/100
Ombudsman arrives as a high-class performer in top form, having won four of his last five starts with recent form figures of 12-111. The five-year-old has already won on this track from his only visit and boasts a strong record at today’s trip plus a solid record on good ground, recording three wins from five attempts. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he should be ideally positioned if the race develops as the strong pace shape suggests. The John and Thady Gosden yard post a 22% strike rate at York with an A/E of 1.03 from 124 runs, while William Buick has a 16% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 1.02 from 456 rides. Overall this looks a highly suitable assignment from stall one.
Item KTB Fit 72/100
Item is another high-class performer with a strong record, having won four of five starts including both outings at this track and both at today’s trip, shown by recent form figures of 11-191. The three-year-old looks well placed from stall two on good ground that has already suited him with one win from one attempt. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he will hope the strong pace materialises to set up a late run. Andrew Balding operates at a 14% strike rate at York with an A/E of 1.05 from 496 runs, and Colin Keane has an excellent 25% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 2.04 from 20 rides. The combination of course form, trip effectiveness and yard/jockey statistics makes him a major player.
Constitution River KTB Fit 67/100
Constitution River is a high-class performer boasting an unbeaten record of six wins from six starts, including three at today’s trip, with recent form figures of 11-111. He has won all three starts on good ground and holds strong course connections through his powerful yard. Usually held up and producing his effort late, he is another who should relish the anticipated strong pace. Aidan O’Brien has a 14% strike rate at York with an A/E of 0.72 from 345 runs, while Ryan Moore posts a 16% strike rate at the track with an A/E of 0.91 from 646 rides. From draw seven, this lightly raced and progressive colt looks sure to go close.
Almaqam KTB Fit 58/100
Almaqam is a high-class performer with solid recent form including a win and a placed effort this season, reflected in figures of 233-14. The five-year-old has course experience having finished second here and is proven at this trip with two wins from eight attempts. Tending to make the running or race on the pace, he is likely to be prominent early in what is expected to be a strongly run race. He acts on good ground with three wins from seven attempts and the Ed Walker yard operates at a 10% strike rate at York with an A/E of 0.87 from 163 runs. Kieran Shoemark’s 8% strike rate at the track from 97 rides adds to the picture for this front-running contender.
The rest of the field
Pride Of ArrasKTB Fit 57/100
Pride Of Arras is a smart performer who has won two of his three starts here and looks well placed from stall five. He has solid recent form including a good second last time out, has already shown he handles this trip and ground, and Ralph Beckett’s 14% strike rate at York with an A/E of 1.02 from 339 runs adds confidence to the booking of Rossa Ryan.
ActionKTB Fit 54/100
Action is a smart performer who has been placed at this track and over today’s trip. He has mixed form this year and was well held in his last two starts over further, though Aidan O’Brien’s solid 14% strike rate at York from a big sample provides some hope.
Hawk MountainKTB Fit 49/100
Hawk Mountain is a smart performer with a solid recent record of 11-123 and strong ratings backing. He has already placed at this trip, shown he handles the ground and is relatively lightly raced overall, with first-time headgear now added while the yard holds a 14% strike rate at York.
Devil's AdvocateKTB Fit 47/100
Devil’s Advocate is a smart performer who has run to a good level on several occasions this year but has been a shade below his best on his last two starts. He has already shown he handles this trip and acts on good ground, though his record at York is ordinary, he is yet to win in three tries on this surface and first-time headgear is now applied.
ZaydannKTB Fit 44/100
Zaydann is a smart performer who has won all five starts to date including at this trip on his most recent outing. The yard’s small sample at York means their record here cannot be judged, the jockey has a solid 19% strike-rate from 42 rides at the track, and while his lightly raced nature leaves some questions unanswered, the unbeaten record carries plenty of weight.
KTB verdict
Ombudsman is the KTB Selection. He arrives in top form with four wins from his last five starts, has already won on this track from his only visit, and boasts a strong record at the trip plus a solid record on good ground. The yard’s respectable strike-rate at York and the fact he is usually held up should play perfectly into the expected strong pace that could collapse late. His main dangers are Item, who has an excellent record at both the track and trip, and Constitution River, whose unbeaten six-from-six record and progressive profile make him a formidable threat from the powerful O’Brien/Moore axis.
KTB Selection Ombudsman
This is the narrative read of the 3:35 York. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the York racecard. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horses are likely to set the strong pace?
Almaqam and Hawk Mountain are both noted as tending to make the running or race on the pace.
How many of the principals are usually held up?
Three of the four principals — Ombudsman, Item and Constitution River — are usually held up and produce their effort late.
Which horse has the best recent form figures among the principals?
Constitution River has the best recent form figures among the principals with 11-111, reflecting an unbeaten six-from-six record.
What is the trainer strike-rate at York for the yard of the KTB Selection?
The John and Thady Gosden yard have a 22% strike rate at York with an A/E of 1.03 from 124 runs.
Which runner is having its first-time headgear fitted?
Both Hawk Mountain and Devil’s Advocate are fitted with first-time headgear.
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